Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1887-12-21
WASHINGTON CITY.
From our Washington Correspondent

FROM our washington Correspondent
WASHINGTON, D. c., Dec. 10, 1887.
The question as to the establishment of a
postal telegraph system promises to be one
OF the leading issues in the present Con-
gress. The Senate has adopted a resolution
providing for the appointment of a select
committee to consider the question. The
friends of the measure fully realize that they
will meet with opposition at every point
from the gigantic telegraph monopolies
whose business will be seriously crippled
should the Government establish lines of its
own. The bill that has heen introduced
provides for an appropriation of So, 500, 900
to commence. operations; and should the
measure become a law, work upon the lines
will be commenced at once.
An unusually large number of bills have
been introduced in the Senate during the
past week, and large majority of them are
| "old timers" whose titles have become
familiar from their discussion in former
| Congresses. Many of the bills are of pri-
vate nature; while among the more import
ant bills OF a public nature, may be men,
toned Mr.. Beck's proposition to retire the
! United States legal-teDder and bank notes
OF large denominations and the issue of coin
certificates. Mr.. Dolph's, measure repeal
| fCur6
laws, and bill appropriating 1926, 900, 900
in II years for the construction of fortifica-
lions and sea coast defences.
| 1t is probable that Washington will soon
| be provided with rapid transit connection
with the northern and northwestern sub
| urbs. Since President Cleveland purchased
his country residence on the Tennalytown
road, there have been extensive improve
ments in that direction and many valuable
residences have been erected at a distance
from the city limits. A company has re-
Gently been formed with the purpose of con-
structing an elevated railway, which it is
proposed to have follow "a route leading
through some of the principal streets of the
city, and thence to the northwestern SUBJ
urbs. The company has applied to Con-
gress for its incorporation and it is an
nounced that work will be commence at
! once, if sanctioned by Congress.
1t may be of interest to some to know
how Uncle Sam gets rid Of the unclaimed
articles that pass through the mails. They
are sent to the s'dead letter" Office here,
and, If there are no marks upon them to
designate the seuders, they are laid aside
until just before Christmas, when all that
have accumulated during the year are done
up in bundles and auctioned off to the high
Wv 0ANNSis ~ oohOo dDOuv q WCck " us
pose of the goods and the bundles are sold
at the rate of four minute. The bundles
are all numbered and catalogues giving a
partial description of the contents, are free
ly distributed before the sale begins. Here
are few extracts from the catalogue of the
sale which is just closing:-
GA. 5! yds. sash ribbon, two lady's neck
ties and a hair pin.
1864. Cheap reticule, damaged apron,
cheap handkerchief, 6yds. cheese cloth, box
of sea shells;
3430. Il lbs. plug tobacco, pair scissors,
cheap soldering iron, &c
1920. Damaged pocket knife, cheap
jewelry, broken spec acles, cigars.
316S. Small plane, fret saw blades, 2 COM
bination holders and bits, cheap pocket
knives, doz. lamp wicks.
The average price received is about fifty
cents.
On Wednesday evening a reception was
given by the citizens of Washington, to two
distinguished members of the Irish Parli-
amentary party, Hon. Arthur O'Connor
and Sir Thomas Henry Grattan- Esmonde.
The reception was attended by prominent
men of both political parties, all staunch
supporters of our free system of government
who gave assurance Of their hearty SYM
pathy with the Irish Patriots in their strue-
gle against the might and power of British
Toryism. Fl.